Deals

Press Release: Comexposium Group today announces the entry into an agreement to acquire the group MFV which includes major Franchise trade shows and conferences in the United States (International Franchise Expo in New York, Franchise Expo West in Los Angeles, Franchise Expo South in Dallas); Franquicias Feria International, the leading annual event in Mexico and The Franchise Show in London. A portfolio of developmental events in Latin America and Europe also are part of the acquisition.

Richard Desmond has opened the books of his newspaper and magazine business as it progresses towards a sale, City A.M. understands

Press Release: Next 15, the digital communications group, is pleased to announce the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Velocity Partners Limited (“Velocity”), a B2B digital agency with a focus on technology clients. Velocity was founded by Doug Kessler and Stan Woods in 2000, who will remain in the business following its acquisition. Clients include multi-national technology groups, such as Sprint, Xerox and Informatica. Velocity is based in the UK, however, 70% of its revenues came from US-based clients in financial year ended 30 April 2017

Press Release: Cello Group plc (AIM: CLL; “Cello”, the “Group” or the “Company), the healthcare and strategic marketing group, is pleased to announce the acquisition of the assets of Advantage Healthcare Inc (“Advantage Healthcare”). The proposed initial consideration for the Acquisition is US$1.5 million, which is payable in cash. Further cash consideration will be paid to the vendors on a dollar for dollar basis to the extent that the acquired net current assets of Advantage Healthcare are over US$0.5 million at the date of completion. In addition, deferred consideration of up to US$3.00 million will be payable in a mix of cash and shares, dependent on financial performance over the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2021. This deferred consideration will be paid in a minimum of 75% cash, with the balance in new ordinary shares

Press Release: WPP announces that it has agreed to acquire thjnk AG (“thjnk”), a leading independent creative agency group in Germany. Founded in 2012 in Hamburg, with offices in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Munich, Zurich and New York, thjnk is a multi-award winning agency group specialising in advertising, design and corporate publishing. Recently it was named Agency of the Year 2017 by German trade publication Werben & Verkaufen. The agency employs 400 people

Press Release: 17 July 2017: UDG Healthcare plc (“the Group”), a leading international healthcare services provider, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Cambridge BioMarketing LLC, a US-based healthcare communications business, for a total consideration of up to $35m.

Cambridge BioMarketing is an industry leader in orphan and rare disease drug launches, a fast-growing area of drug development and commercialisation. The orphan drug and rare disease market is forecasted to grow by a CAGR of 11% between 2017 and 2022 to $209bn, with orphan drugs estimated to account for 21.4% of prescription sales by 20221. Cambridge BioMarketing also has a strong creative and digital function in a market where digital content is becoming increasingly important for pharmaceutical companies.

Press Release 12 July 2017: UDG Healthcare plc (“the Group”), a leading international healthcare services provider, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Vynamic LLC, a US-based healthcare industry management consulting firm, for a total consideration of up to $32m

Centaur Media has announced the acquisition of MarketMakers, the UK B2B marketing services business, for £13.4m. MarketMakers and its division ReallyB2B consist of “sophisticated” B2B telemarketing, data analytics, database enrichment and automated lead generation businesses.

The organiser of some of Britain’s biggest shows, including the House & Garden Festival and Olympia Horse Show, has been put up for sale with a £600 million price tag.

Publisher of The Week, Dennis Publishing, has bought financial magazine MoneyWeek. Like The Week, MoneyWeek has enjoyed years of circulation growth.

Future has bought Centaur’s home interest titles for £32m. The magazines include: Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living and Real Homes. There are also seven exhibitions.

Press Release: Huntsworth plc, the healthcare communications and public relations group (“Huntsworth” or “the Group”), today announces the acquisition of the entire share capital of The Creative Engagement Group (“TCEG”) from funds managed by LDC (Managers) Limited (“LDC”) and certain members of TCEG’s management for total consideration of £24.7m

Press Release: One of the few remaining independent publishing ‘jewels’ has been acquired by the Mark Allen Group (MAG) in its bid to enhance its business-to-business portfolio. Kent-based Unity Media Plc and its sister company, Unity Exhibitions Ltd, have been snapped up by MAG for an undisclosed sum.

In a RNS this morning Electric Word has announced that it has agreed to its sale to a newly incorporated company controlled by owned and controlled by Riccardo Silva and Marco Auletta of Silva International for a total sum of approximately £16.58m. Since disposals of other assets last year Electric Word’s sole business has been SportBusiness, a name which the business will now revert to.

American Media said it will acquire Men’s Journal from Wenner Media, marking the second magazine deal that the two companies have done in recent months.

Press Release: The Chelsea Magazine Company has acquired Popshot Magazine, a contemporary illustrated literary magazine that publishes short stories, flash fiction, and poetry for up-and-coming authors and illustrators. The magazine is published bi-annually, releasing a new issue every April and October, each with a different theme. The Print Edition is stocked in 24 countries worldwide with the Digital Edition and Online Journal available online via the Popshot Magazine website

Briefing Media announced on Friday that The Media Briefing is to close and that its two leading events are to be owned and hosted by Haymarket in future

Yesterday One of the world’s biggest health and wellness media companies has vaulted spryly on to the auction block. On Wednesday, Rodale, Inc., publisher of Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Prevention and Runner’s World, among other titles, announced that it is considering “strategic alternatives” for the company, including a potential sale

Vice Media has completed a $450m investment from TPG, the private equity group, in a deal the youth-focused company said valued it at $5.7bn — more than double its valuation of three years ago.

Press Release: MUMBAI, India, May 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Havas Group is expanding its capabilities and footprint in the important and burgeoning Indian market by adding Sorento to its roster of agencies. Sorento will integrate the Havas Health & You business unit and be rebranded Havas Life Sorento. This strategic acquisition will allow Havas to further develop its regional presence and add to its depth and breadth in India to deliver for global clients.